Dancing On Ice star Ria Hebden has recalled the moment she met professional figure skater Christopher Dean and said it was “like meeting Father Christmas”.
The TV presenter is currently preparing to put on her skating shoes and dazzle her way through the upcoming competition that is set to take place early next year.
Although she is nervous to take part in the ITV show, she was more than happy to finally meet the legendary Christopher and his dance partner Jayne Torvill.
Talking to the Mirror, Ria, 38, spoke candidly about what it was like to meet the dancing duo for the first time.
She said: “I felt like a child meeting Father Christmas for the first time! Christopher has a smiley face and magical twinkly eyes.
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
“I had no idea he was going to do it, but he suddenly lifted me up in his arms and spun me around about 20 times. It felt like I was flying.”
She added: “It’s such a privilege to meet Olympic champions, so it’s something I’ll tell my grandchildren. It’s why I love working in television.”
When asked whether her first day of training was scary, Ria agreed that it most definitely was.
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Ria’s fears of the ice are partly due to the fact that she hasn’t been ice skating since she was ten years old and she also had her grandparents on hand for support at the time.
The TV personality previously spoke to her colleague Lorraine Kelly on her morning programme and said she is looking forward to learning a new “scary skill”.
She explained: “It’ll be fun. This is one of ITV’s most sparkly shows so when they asked me I was like absolutely, we watch it at home. It will be brilliant to learn a new scary skill.
“You’ve got to say yes to things that excite you, that are a little bit scary because that’s when the growth happens – I’m hoping so anyway!
“I’m going to go on this journey and hopefully inspire mums, dads and everyone to give things a go.”
Some of the other confirmed celebs that will be taking part in Dancing On Ice in 2022 are Love Island’s Liberty Poole, Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor, former Strictly star Brendan Cole, singer Rachel Stevens, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and The Vamps band member Connor Ball.
Dancing on Ice is set to return to our screens in January
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
